Surrey RCMP are on the hunt for a 23-year-old man after he defrauded victims of thousands.
Clayton Brooks Hayden is wanted on 13 counts of fraud under $5,000. He's been charged and a warrant is out for his arrest, according to a release from Surrey RCMP.
The charges stem from a series of incidents last winter, between Nov. 6 and Dec. 24. Hayden allegedly convinced people he was in need of cash while they were at a bank or other financial institution. Victims would deposit a cheque into their account via an ATM and withdraw cash for him.
Then they'd find out the cheque was fake, days after the interaction.
"We want the public to be aware these types of fraud," says Sgt. Ryan Forbes in the release. "Protect yourself by never agreeing to a transaction which involves putting yourself in the role of becoming a financier to a stranger. Even though the person’s situation is presented as dire, err on the side of caution and never agree to cash a cheque on behalf of a stranger."
Hayden was connected to a previous cheque scam in Coquitlam.
He's described as a 23-year-old Caucasian male standing 5'9", weighing 150 lbs. with brown hair and brown eyes.
Surrey RCMP are asking anyone with information about his whereabouts to call 604-599-0502, or you can call Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-8477.
